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9

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt

(Himantopus himantopus)
Alternate name(s): "Common Stilt", "Longshanks", "Stilt-bird", "Dog-bird";
misnomer: "Long-legged Plover"
German name(s): "Stelzenläufer"

Size: 33-40 cm; wing span 67-83 cm
Weight: 135-290 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt at Wikipedia .

Click here for classification information

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "himantopus"

ADULT

MALE

Near-lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt; the jet-black back suggests that this is a male (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, May 2018]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Lateral view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas de Olhao, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt - with the wind ruffling its feathers from behind, it looks a bit untidy
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Brito, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, June 2022]

Dorsal view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Brito, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, June 2022]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt; note the brownish hues on the back (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Forte do Rato, Tavira, Algarve, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2022]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2020]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt in flight; the brownish hues on the back suggest that this is a female
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2014]

PAIR

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts together with a pair of non-breeding Ruffs: The bird on the right, with the black back, is likely a male, the bird at the far left, with the brownish back a female, and the bird at front left, with a greyish crown and neck, a first-year immature (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2018]

Male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt, left, and a female, right, trying to chase away an intruder near their nest
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Near-frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt issuing its call (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Comparison of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with a juvenile Greater Flamingo (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]

Overview of a lagoon in which (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts were found, together with several other aquatic species, including Greater Flamingos (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a first-year immature (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt foraging in grassland (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Near Temerin, Serbia, August 2017]

Lateral view of a first-year immature (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt foraging in a marsh (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]

Near-dorsal view of an immature? (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Dorsal view of an immature? (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Close-up dorsal view of two first-winter (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts; note the still grey nape of the neck, which in adults will be black (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2022]

Lateral view of a juvenile (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a resting juvenile (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Marismas de Isla Cristina, Isla Cristina, Huelva, Spain, September 2020]

Lateral view of four well-advanced (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2014]

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts landing where others are already foraging; note the orange legs of the juveniles, compared to the pink ones of adults (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with 3 chicks (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

Near-frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Near-frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick hiding in reeds (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick hiding in reeds (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Dorsal view of two (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chicks hiding in reeds (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Aug Eggs: 4 Incubation period: ca. 25 days Fledging age: Precocial

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chicks leave their nest at a very young age, soon after the last egg has hatched. They can fly at about 28 days of age.

Nest building: ? Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Sticks, seaweed Height above ground: N/A

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Dorsal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt on its nest (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

Eggs

Size: 48 x 34 mm Colour: Ochre, with dark olive-brown speckles Shape: Long tapered oval

Frontal view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt turning the eggs in its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt turning its eggs (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, June 2022]

Behaviour

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts are one of the bird species that try to distract those coming too close to their nests or chicks by pretending to be injured, thereby leading the intruder astray.

Dorsal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt trying to distract an intruder (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt trying to distract an intruder, making sure that it is being followed - away from its nest/chicks (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

In their winter quarters, (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts can congregate in significant numbers.

Lateral view of a mob of (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts in low flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2022]

Food, Diet

Male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

Male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blwstlt_jp_20190602_3.m4a himantopus
(Portugal)
Contact calls(?) © JP
blwstlt_jp_20190602.m4a himantopus
(Portugal)
Contact & warning calls(?)
(+ Little Grebe)
© JP
blwstlt_jp_20190522.m4a himantopus
(Portugal)
Warning calls(?) (+ bells) © JP
blwstlt_jp_20190602_2.m4a himantopus
(Portugal)
Warning/departure © JP

More Black-winged Stilt sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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